The NSS Bulletin - ISSN 1090-6924
Volume 36 Number 1: 5-17 - January 1974
A publication of the National Speleological Society

Reconnaissance Geology of Timpanogos Cave, Wasatch County, Utah
William B. White and James J. Van Gundy

Abstract

Timpanogos Cave is located in American Fork Canyon of the Wasatch Mountains. The cave consists of high, narrow passages developed along minor faults. These faults are parts of the complex fault structure near the interesection of the north-south trending Wasatch thrust system and the east-west trending Uinta fold system. Complex solution sculpturing indicates slow solution of the dolomitic Deseret limestone by percolating waters. Tilting of clastic sediments on the cave floor suggests fault movement after the formation of the cave.

The cave contains spectacular carbonate speleothems. Calcite occurs as dripstone and also as helictites and other erratic forms. Aragonite is common and occurs as needles and anthodictic forms. Moonmillk occurs sparsely as tufts as hydromagnesite on tips of dripstone deposits. Unusual yellow calcite and green argonite are colored by Ni++, which locally may reach concentrations of several percent.

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